Safety razor and blade for use therewith



March 28, 1950 J. A. RIEGER v 2,502,062

R SAFETY RAzoR AND' BLADE RoR USE THRREWITH Filed NOV. 5, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR JOHN A. 'gm-"G55,

March 28, 1950 J. A. Rrr-:GER

SAFETY RAZOR AND BLADE F'OR USE ''HEREWITH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 5, 1945A F/G. Q.

l BY

)f2-@mmf ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 28, 1950 4UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAFETY RAZOR AND BLADE FOR USE THEREWITH 7 Claims.

My invention relates to a safety razor, and safety razor blades for use therewith.

An object of my invention is to provide a safety razor which is effective to operate at a barbers angle, namely, the angle at which a barber or user normally holds a straight razor when applying it to the face.

Another object of my invention is to provide a safety razor which is applied to the skin in a most eicient manner and at an angle which will normally not cut the skin of the party being shaved.

A further object of my invention is to provide a safety razor which, as it is drawn over the face, will not cut the beard when applied with too great pressure against the skin, but which, when applied with the proper-light pressure will cut the beard.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a safety razor which may be stored, when not in use, in a vertical position, thereby permitting the ends of the blades to stick up into the air without contacting any object tending to chip or mar the edges thereof, as is the case of standard safety razors where they have to be laid on their sides.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a safety razor in which the blade retains its correct position between the guard and head members for shaving when the razor is applied with the proper-light pressure but withdraws behind the guard member when the razor is applied with too much pressure.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a safety razor blade which may be readily fabricated so that in use it may be applied at a barbers angle and with the barbers touch.

These and Such other objects of my invention as may hereinafter appear will be best understood from a description of the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an automatic safety razor constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional View taken along the broken line 3-3 of Fig. 2 but showing the razor completely assembled.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional View taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2 of a completely assembled razor.

Fig. 6 is a schematic view showing a users face lathered for shaving in perspective and my improved razor in section applied to said face with one cutting edge thereof applied to said face with the correct pressure for shaving.

Fig. 7 is a schematic view similar to Fig. 6 with the razor applied to the face with too much pressure, illustrating how the side wall of the blade rises upwards behind the guard means to inhibit cutting the user and the beard.

Fig. 8 is an end elevation of my improved razor with the head resting on the table and handle standing upright.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the razor in the position assumed in Fig. 8.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout, 3B generally indicates a safety razor constructed in accordance with my invention, such razor comprising a razor blade 32, shown particularly in Figure 2, a head member 34, and a guard member adapted to clamp the razor blade 32 between them, a handle 3B being attached to said members when they are clamped together.

The safety razor according to this invention includes a razor blade 32 having a cutting edge resiliently mounted in said razor so arranged and constructed that when the razor is applied by the handle in use to the users face the razor will only cut the beard when applied at an angle approximating a barbers angle so-called, which is that at which a straight razor is normally applied Ain use either by the shaver himself or by a barber, land which cutting edge will only cut the beard without cutting the user when the barbers touch is applied. These results are accomplished when a razor blade 32 constructed in accordance with my invention is employed, suitably resiliently mounted within the composite razor 30.

As shown in Figure 2, the razor blade 3?. is fabricated from a piece of thin resilient metal and has at least a theoretical llat top wall 40 and flat side walls 42 terminating in cutting edges 44 projecting downwardly along each side edge of the top wall Il!! preferably at an angle approximating the angle at which a straight razor contacts the face, in other words at an angle more closely approaching the vertical than the angle at which prior safety razors have cut. In the prior art the cutting edge has been applied to the face at an angle approximating degrees whereas razors constructed in accordance with my invention apply the cutting edge at an angle less than i5 degrees preferably substantially less. Said top wall fill has a center portion thereof cut away to provide the open center portion it extending substantially to the side walls i2 and to adjacent the ends (i8 thereof forming at said ends flat resilient strips G joining said side walls 42 together. In my preferred embodiment of razor, said strips 5B are provided with flat pivot lugs 54 projecting inwardly centrally thereof. Said strips may also be provided with the at finger grips 56 projecting outwardly centrally thereof. It is apparent that with this construction I have provided a safety razor blade 33 which may be laid on any support so that the cutting edges 44! thereof project upwardly away from the surface of said support. It is also apparent that the side walls d2 form means whereby the safety razor may be readily grasped between the lingers of a hand and lifted by the hand the desired distance. The nger grips 5S provide means for gripping the razor blade for the ready attachment thereof to and detachment from the razor 30.

I have constructed my improved safety razor 3U so that it may hold my improved safety razor blade in a manner to apply a cutting edge mi of said blade to the users face at the barbers angle, namely at substantially the angle at which said side walls 42 are bent downwardly from the top Wall 40 of said safety razor blade and with an action inherent from the construction of the blade 32 itself so that the razor Si) will only cut the beard when applied at the barbers angle and will only cut the beard without cutting the user when the barbers touch is applied. As the strips 5|] are resilient, it is obvious that they provide means to resiliently mount the blade in said razor but that when the blade is drawn against the face with too much pressure, as shown in Fig. '7, the cutting edge M recedes to a non-cutting position behind the guard means or head member 34 to prevent cutting the skin i3@ of the face |32 of the user and returns to its lower beard cutting position, as shown in Fig. 6, when the excess pressure is removed therefrom and the razor applied at the right pressure.

I therefore may provide a safety razor comprising a head member dit and a guard member 36 secured together into a unit and having a manipulating handle 38, Said members 34 and 36 having spaced top walls forming a clearance space 35 between them and spaced side walls forming between them a blade holding channel 31 projecting downwardly from at least one side thereof at the angle hithertofore described approximating the angle at which a straight razor contacts the face and a thin metallic safety razor blade 32 having a at side wall ft2 normally projecting downwardly to a beard cutting position in said blade holding channel beyond the end thereof. As shown in Fig. 6, said blade has a top wall Ml comprising the resilient portions 5t preferably at each end thereof projecting inwardly in the clearance space 35 formed between the top walls of the guard and head members 34 and 36 and means 39 on said guard and head members to clamp said inwardly projecting portions or strips 5S of the top wall of said blade between said members whereby as the razor blade edge is drawn in use against the face |32 with too much pressure, as shown in Fig. '7, the cutting edge 613 of the blade may withdraw up wardly in the downwardly projecting channel 3l between said guard and head members, as shown strip clamping lugs 5G therein.

in Fig. 7, with the resilient portions of the top wall pivoting upwardly as at 4l, as shown in Fig. 7, in said clearance space 35 so that the cutting edge M of the blade side wall recedes behind the lower edge of the head member to the position shown in Fig. 7, preventing cutting the users skin il. This resilient mounting however permits the cutting edge Si to return to its beard cutting position shown in Fig, (i, with said edge mi projecting beyond the lower end of said guard means Sli when said excess pressure is removed therefrom.

My improved safety razor is provided with the usual guard member 36 having the flat top wall i3 having a central hole @5i therein. Said at top wall i3 has an upper surface ffii having its ends rabbeted as at :i9 for substantially the width of said blade strips 5@ to a substantial depth, a multiplicity of times deeper than the thickness of the blade strips 5E! to provide a clearance space 35 for the upward pivoting of the outer ends Lil of the blade strips 5B therein, said rabbets preferably having clamping keyways 5i projecting inwardly centrally thereof for receiving the blade As the razor blade top wall lill is entirely cut away with the exception of said end strips 5t, the top wall il of said guard member 35 provides the aligning means for said razor blade 32 with the strips Sii thereof resting in said rabbets 49 and the side walls i2 of said razor blades abutting the side walls 53 of said guard member 36. Said side walls are oi less depth than that of the blade side walls l2 and project downwardly substantially the same angle and may, if desired, as is common in the art, terminate in the serrated comb edges 55 comprising the plurality of spaced teeth or projections 5l.

As is usual in safety razors, I provide a head member 34 also having a flat top wall 5S of substantially the size of said guard member top wall 47 abutting said guard member top wall when attached through the central cut away portion it of said blade, and also having side walls 33 of less depth than those of the blade projecting downwardly at substantially the same angle. The inner surface of said top wail is provided with the means 39 in the form of a narrow clamping and aligning key 6i projecting inwardly from each end centrally thereof to clamp said blade strips 56 and blade strip pivot lugs dit in said guard member keyways 5i and retain said blade 32 and head member Sli in aligned position on said guard member. The head member 34 has a central threaded stud 53 projecting downwardly centrally thereof adapted to be inserted through the hole i5 in said guard member. The usual handle 38 has an upper end 65 abutting the lower surface of said guard member top wall around said hole IE5 and a center threaded socket 6l containing said threaded head member stud S3 for threadedly clamping said parts together on relative rotation of said members. If desired, as shown, the handle 38 may be permanently revoluably attached to the guard member 35 by providing an inwardly projecting annular lip 5S on the guard member adapted to loosely fit in the cooperating groove il on the upper end of the handle for relative rotation of said members.

In operation, the razor is assembled in the manner shown in Fig. 2 by laying the blade 32 on top of the guard member 36 with the top wall il proj-ecting upwardly through the cut away portion d@ thereof and with the aligning lugs 561 iitting within the keyways 5l to correctly align the razor blade on the guard member. The head member` 34 is then inserted over the blade 32 and guard member 36 so that the stud t3 thereof projects within the socket tl. The handle 3d is then rotated drawing the threaded stud 63 within its socket lil and clamping the keys ti against the lugs 54 within the keyways 5i, thus clamping the razor blade between the head and guard members firmly along a center medial line so that the strips 5d will be free to resiliently pivot in the clearance spaces 35 and the side walls d2 will be free to move vertically in the channels Si. Thus if an edge 1M of the razor blade is drawn in use against the face with too much pressure the side wall t2 of the blade will withdraw upwardly in the space 3l' between the guard member and head member side walls with the ends M of the blade strips rit pivoting upwardly in said clearance space 35 so 'that the cutting edge #lli of the blade side wall recedes in said channel 3l to a position preventing cutting the skin and beard of the user as shown in ll'ig. 7, with said cutting edge ill returning to its lower cutting position shown in Fig. 6 when said excess pressure is removed therefrom to a position cutting the hairs i3d of the beard in the manner shown in Fig. 6. New razor blades 32 may be replaced in the razor lll as desired and the razor may be disassembled as often as desired for cleaning the blade. While l. have shown a razor having two cutting edges, it is obvious that one of said edges be omitted if desired.

I have shown in Figs. 8 and 9 a novel advantage of my improved razor arising from the fact that the razor has a fiat top wall lill so that the entire razor may be laid in a vertical position on a support resting on said flat top wall 59 as a base. It is apparent that when in this position the cutting edges all project upwardly and not downwardly against the support as is common in other types of safety razors andfor this reason are much more 4protected from harm and abutting the surface of the support or other objects thereon. In addition, the safety razor takes up much less space on itssupport, whether it comprises a wash basin surface or otherwise when not in use than former types. In addition, the cutting edge of the razor blade never rests flat on a surface so that it may become dulled in rubbing over the surface or against other objects mounted thereon. The finger grips 55 in addition provide means for readily mounting and removing the razor blade 32 on the razor 3G.

lt is apparent that I have also provided a razor blade which may be rapidly manufactured.

it is apparent that provide a novel type of safety razor blade, safety razor for use therewith, with the advantages described above.

lt is understood that my invention is not limited to the specific embodiment shown and that various deviations thereof may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A safety razor blade comprising a thin resilient metallic member having a flat top wall and relatively short flat side walls terminating in cutting edges and projecting downwardly at an angle along each side edge of said top wall, said top wall having the center portion thereof cut away to substantially the side edges thereof and to adjacent the ends thereof forming at said ends dat resilient strips joining the ends of said side walls together.

2. A safety razor blade comprising a thin resilient metallic member having a ilat top wall and relatively short at side walls terminating in cutting edges and projecting downwardly along each side edge of said top wall at an angle, said top wall having the center portion thereof cut away to substantially the side edges thereof and to adjacent the ends thereof forming at said ends flat resilient strips joining the ends of said side walls together, said strips having hat pivot lugs projecting inwardly centrally thereof.

3. A safety razor, comprising a safety razor blade comprising a thin resilient metallic member having a flat top `wall and relatively short flat side walls terminating in cutting edges and projecting downwardly along each side edge of said top wall at an angle, said top wall having the center portion thereof cut away to substantially the side edges thereof and to adjacent the ends thereof forming at said ends flat resilient strips joining the ends of said side walls together, said strips having flat pivot lugs projecting inwardly centrally thereof and flat finger grips projecting outwardly centrally thereof, a guard member having a flat top wall having a central hole therein and having an upper surface having its ends recessed for substantially the width of said blade strips to a substantial depth multiplicity of times deeper than the thickness of the blade strips to provide a clearance space for the upward pivoting of the outer ends of the blade strips therein, clamping keyways on said guard member projecting inwardly centrally thereof for receiving the blade strip pivot lugs therein, and side walls on said guard member of less depth than that of the blade side wlalls projecting downwardly at substantially the saine angle and terminating in serrated comb edges, a head member having a flat top wall of substantially the size of said guard member top wall abutting said guard member top wall through the central cut away portion of said blade having side walls of less depth than those of the blade projecting downwardly at substantially the sames angle, said top wall having narrow clamping and aligning keys projecting inwardly from each end centrally thereof to clamp blade strip pivot lugs in said guard member keyways to retain said blade and head in aligned position on said guard member and a threaded stud projecting downwardly centrally thereof and a handle having an upper end abutting the lower surface of said guard member top wall around said hole and a center threaded socket containing said threaded head member stud for clamping said parts 'together on relative rotation.

4. A safety razor comprising head and guard members secured together into a unit having abutting top walls one of the top walls of said members being recessed to provide a. clearance space between them spaced side walls forming between them a blade holding channel projecting downwardly from one side thereof at an angle and a thin resilient metallic safety razor blade having a fiat side wall normally projecting downwardly in said blade holding channel beyond the end thereof and having a top wall comprising a resilient portion projecting inwardly in the clearance space formed between the top walls of the guard and head members and means in said guard and head members to clamp said inwardly projecting resilient portions of the top wall of said blade between said members and a manipulating handle for said unit.

5. A safety razor, comprising a safety razor blade comprising a thin resilient metallic member having a at top wall and relatively short fiat side walls terminating in cutting edges and projecting downwardly along each side edge of said top wall at an angle, said top wall having the center portion thereof cut away to substantially the side edges thereof and to adjacent the ends thereof forming at said ends iat resilient strips joining the ends of said side walls together, a guard member having a flat top wall having an upper surface having its ends recessed a distance substantially the width of said blade strips to a substantial depth, a multiplicity of times deeper than the thickness of the blade strips to provide a clearance space for the upward pivoting of the outer ends of the blade strips therein, and side walls on said guard member of less depth than that of the blade side walls projecting downwardly at substantially the same angle, a head member having a flat top wall of substantially the size of said guard member top wall abutting said guard member 'top wall through the central cut away portion of said blade having side walls of less depth than those of the blade projecting downwardly at substantially the same angle, means for clamping said guard member, blade strips and head member together only along a cross median line and a handle for said thus assembled members.

6. A safety razor comprising a safety razor blade comprising a thin resilient metallic member having a flat top wall and relatively short hat side walls terminating in cutting edges and projecting downwardly along each side edge of said top wall at an angle, said top wall having the center portion thereof out away to substantially the side edges thereof and to adjacent the ends thereof forming at said ends fiat resilient strips joining the ends of said side walls together, said strips having flat pivot lugs projecting inwardly centrally thereof, a guard member having a iiat top wall having an upper surface having its ends recessed for a distance substantially the width of said blade strips to a substantial depth a multiplicity of times deeper than the thickness of the blade strips to provide a clearance space for the upward pivoting of the outer ends of the blade strips therein, clamping keyways on said guard member projecting inwardly centrally thereof for receiving the blade strip pivot lugs therein, and side walls on said guard member of less depth than that of the blade side walls projecting downwardly at substantially the same angle, a head member having a at top wall of substantially the size of said guard member top wall abutting said guard member top wall through the central out head members together along said cross median line and a handle for said thus assembled members.

7. A. safety razor, comprising a safety razor blade comprising a thin resilient metallic member having a, :dat top Wall and relatively short flat side walls terminating in cutting edges and projecting downwardly along each side edge of said top wall at an angle, said top wall having the center portion thereof cut away to substantially the side edges thereof and to adjacent the ends thereof forming at said ends flat resilient strips joining the ends of said side walls together, said strips having i'lat pivot lugs projecting inwardly centrally thereof, a guard member having a iiat top wall having an upper surface having a central hole therein and its ends recessed for a distance substantially the width of said blade strips to a substantial depth a multiplicity of times deeper than the thickness of the blade strips to provide a clearance space for the upward pivoting of the outer ends of the blade strips therein, clamping keyways on said guard member projecting inwardly centrally thereof for receiving the blade strip pivot lugs therein, and side walls on said guard member of less depth than that of the blade side walls projecting downwardly at substantially the same angle, a head member having a flat top wall of substantially the size of said guard member top wall abutting said guard member top wall through the central cut away portion of said blade having side walls of less depth than those of the blade projecting downwardly at substantially the same angle, said top wall having narrow clamping and aligning keys projecting inwardly centrally thereof to clamp said blade strip pivot lugs in said guard member keyways and to retain said blade and head in aligned position on said guard member and a threaded stud projecting downwardly centrally thereof and a handle having an upper end abutting the lower surface of said guard member top wall around said hole and a center threaded socket containing said threaded head member stud for clamping said parts together.

JOHN A. RIEGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,238,069 Tela Aug. 21, 1917 1,820,407 Thompson Aug. 25, 1931 1,832,834 Schumacher Nov. 17, 1931 1,888,159 Campbell Nov. 15, 1932 1,916,416 Connolly July 4, 1933 2,033,589 Hagan Mar. 10, 1936 2,056,408 Ohmer Oct. 6, 1935 2,149,176 Matheny Feb. 28, 1939 2,413,863 Connolly Jan. 7, 1947 

